It happened on Sunday, September 16, 2018, at about 8:45 am, when deputies responded to a disturbance call in the 16200 block of Vine Street in Hesperia.

When police arrived the learned that Manuel Villanueva, 24, who is a restrained person in an active restraining order in which the victim is the protected person, walked onto the victim’s property and began to yell at her, officials said.

According to Edgar Moran, Service Specialist with the Hesperia Sheriff’s Station, “Villanueva then picked up victim’s small puppy, which weighs approximately 2 pounds, held it above his head, and then forcefully threw the puppy onto a concrete slab.”

The puppy suffered serious injuries and possibly had a shattered rear leg.

Animal Control responded to the scene and took the puppy to a veterinarian for treatment. The puppies condition was unknown as of Monday evening.

Villanueva was arrested and booked into High Desert Detention Center for PC597 Cruelty to Animals and PC166.4 Contempt to Disobey a Court Order. According to public arrest records he is currently being held on $55,000 bail and is scheduled for arraignment in a Victorville courtroom on September 18, 2018.